The SNP government were locked in a furious row with the Catholic Church last night after a senior MP confirmed gay marriage will be allowed in Scotland.

THE SNP government were locked in a furious row with the Catholic Church last night after a senior MP confirmed gay marriage will be allowed in Scotland.

Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart told an SNP conference fringe meeting the controversial law change will happen.

The former Runrig pianist said: "I'm proud of our party and its history of promoting equality.

"Our government will bring forward legislation for equal marriage."

The SNP government are currently consulting on th th the move, which would let gay couples legally marry.

currently consulting on the move, which would let gay couples legally marry.

At present they can only enter civil partnerships, which confer the same legal rights as marriage but not equal status. The Catholic Church, who At present they can only enter civil partnerships, which confer the same legal rights as marriage but not equal status.

The Catholic Church, who fiercely oppose the plans, called on Wishart to withdraw his remarks. They accused the Nats of going back on assurances given by First Minister Alex Salmond in a meeting with Catholic Bishop of Paisley Philip Tartaglia earlier this month.

Paisley Philip ea e rlier this mo Catholic spokesma Kearney s is a contra wh w at we we the First M October 7. Salmond his prefe Catholic Church spokesman Peter Kearney said: "This is a contradiction of what we were told by the First Minister on October 7."

Salmond has said his preference is to allow gay but he has th t at no dec to allow gays to marry but he has promised that no decision will be taken until after the consultation.

The row overshadowed the second day of the SNP conference in Inverness.

In her keynote speech to delegates, health secretary Nicola Sturgeon confirmed targets to cut bed blocking. She admitted efforts to tackle the problem, which costs the NHS £60million a year, had not gone far enough.

Sturgeon insisted the Nats would win their referendum on splitting Scotland from the rest of the UK, expected in 2015.

She said: "It's a message of hope and responsibility, a message of hope and possibility.